What's a 'suspicious package?'

Hillary Clinton thanks the US Secret Service for their protection after suspicious packages targeting her, former President Barack Obama and CNN were intercepted Wednesday in a rash of attacks. (Oct. 24)
AP

The United Postal Service give advice on how to identify suspicious packages.(Photo: United State Postal Service)

Multiple suspicious packages were sent to prominent Democrats this week -- including former Vice President Joe Biden -- as well as CNN's offices in the Time Warner Building in New York City.

Though law enforcement officials have not apprehended any suspects as of Thursday noon, the Secret Service, federal authorities and the New York Police Department all confirmed that the packages were potentially explosive devices.

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A bomb disposal technician carries a package out of a U.S. Post Office facility at 52nd Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan, Oct. 26, 2018 in New York City. The latest package bomb device intercepted in New York City this morning was addressed to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper at CNN's offices. Drew Angerer, Getty Images

epa07121596 Police officers stand outside of a US post office where another suspicious package was discovered and removed by the New York Police Department's bomb squad in New York, New York, USA, 26 October 2018. In recent days packages containing pipe bombs were sent to several prominent figures across the country, sparking a sprawling nationwide investigation. JUSTIN LANE, EPA-EFE

In this frame grab from video provided by WPLG-TV, FBI agents cover a van parked in Plantation, Fla., on Oct. 26, 2018, that federal agents and police officers have been examining in connection with package bombs that were sent to high-profile critics of President Donald Trump. The van has several stickers on the windows, including American flags, decals with logos and text. AP

A NYPD Total Containment Vessel arrives as law enforcement officers investigate a suspicious package at the intersection of W. 52nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues in New York on Oct. 26, 2018. The New York Police Department on Friday closed a Manhattan intersection to traffic and pedestrians as investigators handle a suspicious package. Kevin McCoy, USA TODAY

Postal Police remained outside of the U.S. Post Service Delaware Processing and Distribution Center in New Castle off Quigley Blvd. on Thursday morning after law enforcement investigated another suspicious package potentially targeting former Vice President Joe Biden. Jennifer Corbett, The News Journal

The police bomb disposal unit is set up near the back of the post office on Lancaster Avenue in Wilmington Del. after law enforcement investigated another suspicious package potentially targeting former Vice President Joe Biden. Jeanne Kuang/The News Journal

New York Police stand outside the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, Oct. 24, 2018 in New York. A police bomb squad was sent to CNN's offices at the center, and the newsroom was evacuated because of a suspicious package. The Secret Service said it intercepted an explosive device sent to the Obamas and a similar one that was also sent to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her husband former President Bill Clinton. Another similar explosive device was sent to CNN's offices in New York, Rep. Wasserman Schultz ’ office in Sunrise, Fla, as well as one sent to billionaire philanthropist George Soros on Oct. 22. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

A member of the Broward Sheriff's Office bomb squad is seen as he investigates a suspicious package in the building where Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) has an office on Oct. 24, 2018 in Sunrise, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Police tape keeps people back as the The Broward Sheriff's Office bomb squad investigate a suspicious package in the building where Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) has an offce on Oct. 24, 2018 in Sunrise, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

U.S. Secret Service Uniform Division officers stand guard at the end of the block where former President Barack Obama and his family live and where an explosive device was sent October 24, 2018 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Contact the Federal Protective Service immediately by calling (877)-437-7411 or 911.

Leave and close the door to the space containing the suspicious letter or package, cover the threshold area under the door with a towel or coat if possible and section off the area.

To prevent spreading any powder or hazardous substance to your face, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Have Delawareans received any?

Spokespeople for Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester said their offices have not received any suspicious packages.

Law enforcement confirmed on Wednesday that two suspicious packages addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden had been found at Delaware post offices, one at Quigley Boulevard in New Castle and one at Lancaster Avenue in Wilmington.

Biden also owns a home in Rehoboth Beach, and there was no police activity reported there.

How common are mail bombs?

According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, not very.

To illustrate just how rare, Postal Inspectors have investigated an average of 16 mail bombs over the last few years, according to the agency's website.

By contrast, each year, the Postal Service processes more than 170 billion pieces of mail. That means during the last few years, the chances that a piece of mail actually contains a bomb average far less than one in 10 billion.

Death by mail bomb is even rarer, though not unheard of.

Just this year, a serial mail bomber in Austin, Texas, killed two people and injured several others. And no one can forget the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, who mailed explosives that killed three people and injured 24 during a campaign against modern technology that ran from 1978 to 1995.

Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.

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New Castle County Police swept former Vice President Joe Biden's Greenville home Wednesday after suspicious packages were found at both the Clinton's and Obama's offices.(Photo: DAMIAN GILETTO/THE NEWS JOURNAL)